Display for refrigerator

ABSTRACT

A display for a refrigerator, which can uniformly form a diffusing area, is provided. The display includes a process unit receiving a variety of operation signals for operating the refrigerator, a front cover provided in front of the process unit and including a pushing portion displaying an input location of a user and a light transmission portion transmitting light, and a diffusion sheet provided in rear of the front cover and uniformly diffusing the light.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a display for a refrigerator.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, a refrigerator is a home appliance that stores food at a lowtemperature. The refrigerator has a main body defining a storage chamberin which the food is stored and a door that is coupled to the main bodyto selectively open and close the storage chamber.

A display is installed on the door to display an operational state ofthe refrigerator. The display has a display unit and an operationalsignal input unit for inputting a variety of operation signals foroperating the refrigerator.

In more detail, the operational signal input unit includes apolycarbonate sheet and a printed layer for designing the polycarbonatesheet, and a diffusing area for diffusing light emitted toward a rearsurface of the polycarbonate sheet.

A front surface of the polycarbonate sheet is exposed on a front surfaceof the refrigerator for the contact with a user. The printed layer isformed performing a silkscreen printing process on the rear surface ofthe polycarbonate sheet. The diffusion area is formed by sprayingdiffusion ink on a rear surface of the printed layer.

However, according to the display of the related art, since thediffusion ink is directly sprayed on the rear surface of the operationalcontrol signal input unit to form the diffusion area on the operationalsignal input unit, a boundary portion of the diffusion area is clearlydefined and it is difficult to partly vary a color of the diffusion ink.

Further, since the diffusion ink for forming the diffusion area is notabsorbed in glass or acryl board, the operation control signal inputunit has be formed of the poly-carbonate. Since the polycarbonate hasless strength and durability as compared with the glass and acryl, thefront surface of the operation control signal input unit formed of thepolycarbonate might be easily scratched or torn when the refrigerator isused for a long time.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

Embodiments provide a display for a refrigerator, which is sleek andclean and easily variable in its illumination color.

Embodiments also provide a display for a refrigerator, which can providea uniform diffusion area regardless of a material of a front cover.

Embodiments also provide a display for a refrigerator, which can enhancea sense of unit by displaying a display window and other portions withan identical color.

Technical Solution

In one embodiment, a display for a refrigerator includes a process unitreceiving a variety of operation signals for operating the refrigerator;a front cover provided in front of the process unit and including apushing portion displaying an input location of a user and a lighttransmission portion transmitting light; and a diffusion sheet providedin rear of the front cover and uniformly diffusing the light.

In another embodiment, a display for a refrigerator includes a frontboard having a display window and a margin portion; a printed layerformed on the front board; and a diffusion sheet that is attached inrear of the printed layer to diffuse the light.

In still another embodiment, a display for a refrigerator includes acontrol panel having a light emission component; a diffusion sheetlocated in front of the control panel and printed with a specificcolor-base; and a front cover disposed in front of the diffusion sheet,the front cover including a display window formed corresponding to thediffusion sheet and a margin portion defining an alter portion of thedisplay window.

Advantageous Effects

According to the embodiments, since a diffusion sheet is attached on thefront cover, the diffusion area can be formed to be clean and sleek anda distribution of light passing through a light transmission unit can beuniformly realized.

Further, a variety of light emission colors can be realized by varying acolor of the diffusion sheet even when a monochrome light emission unitis used.

Furthermore, since the diffusion sheet is attached on a rear surface ofthe front cover, the diffusion area can be formed regardless less of amaterial of the front cover. In this case, the front cover may be formedof a glass board or an acryl board.

In addition, since the display window and other portions can be formedwith an identical color, a sense of unity can be enhanced and an overallappearance can be improved.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present disclosure areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the disclosure as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator from which a display of afirst embodiment is separated.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a front cover of the display of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the front cover of FIG. 2

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a display according to asecond embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of a front cover of the display of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating operation of the display of FIG. 4.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Although embodiments have been described with reference to anumber of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood thatnumerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by thoseskilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of theprinciples of this disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator from which a display of afirst embodiment is separated, FIG. 2 is a front view of a front coverof the display of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the frontcover of FIG. 2,

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a refrigerator includes a main body 50defining freezing and refrigerating compartments, a freezing compartmentdoor 51 for opening and closing the freezing compartment, and arefrigerating compartment door 53 for opening and closing therefrigerating compartment. The freezing and refrigerating compartmentdoors 51 and 53 are pivotally installed on the main body 50.

A dispenser 55 is provided on the freezing compartment door 51. Thedispenser 55 allows a user to get water stored in a water tank providedin the main body 50 or ice cubes made in an ice making apparatus withoutopening the freezing compartment door 51. The dispenser includes a valve(not shown) for dispensing water and/or a lover 56 for driving an iceseparating unit (not shown) dispensing the ice cubes.

A home bar 57 is provided on the refrigerating door 53. The home bar 57allows the user to get or dispose beverages or the like without openingthe refrigerating door 53. The home bar 57 is selectively opened by ahome bar door 59 that is pivotally installed on a front portion of therefrigerating door 53.

Meanwhile, a display is provided above the dispenser 55. The display 60receives a variety of manipulation signals for operating therefrigerator and displays information on the operation of therefrigerator to an external side.

In more detail, the display 60 includes a main body display unit 61mounted on the main body 50 and a front cover 65 coupled to the mainbody display unit 61.

The main body display unit 61 is provided with a display area 62 fordisplaying in-formation on the operation of the refrigerator. Forexample, information on an amount of ice dispensed through the dispenser55, an amount of purified water dispensed through the dispenser 55,temperatures of the freezing and refrigerating compartments, a schedule,and the like is displayed. A process unit 63 is provided on either sidesof the display area 62. The process unit 63 includes a system forprocessing information on the dispensing of ice and water, the controlof the temperatures of the freezing and refrigerating compartments, themanagement of the schedule, and the like. A light emission unit (notshown) for emitting light to a rear surface of the front cover 65 isprovided on the process unit 63. The light emission unit may include aplurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

The front cover 65 covers the front surfaces of the process unit 63 andthe display area 62. The front cover 65 defines an outer appearance ofthe front surface of the display unit 60. The front cover 65 is designedto receive the manipulation signals through a touch-screen manner. Thatis, the front cover 65 includes a front board 66 defining a frontsurface of the display unit 60 and a printed layer 67 for designing thefront board 66.

The printed layer 67 is formed on the rear surface of the front board 66through a silkscreen printing process. A plurality of pushing portions67A for letting the user know the input locations are formed on theprinted layer 67. Each of the pushing portions 67A is provided at anedge with a light transmission portion 67B that can transmit a relativelarge amount of light emitted from the light emission unit. The lighttransmission portion 67B is substantially formed by not being coloredduring the silkscreen printing process or by colored with the relativelylow depth.

Further, a display window 68 corresponding to the display area 62 of themain body display unit 61 is formed on the front cover 65 so that thedisplay area 62 can be viewed well from the external side.

Meanwhile, a margin portion that will be colored with a variety ofcolors to design the front plate board 66 is formed on the printed layer67 except for the pushing portion 67A, the light transmission portion67B, and the display window 68. Letters, numbers, symbols, and the likefor describing the pushing portion 67A are displayed on the marginportion 67C.

Diffusion sheets 69 and 70 are attached on the rear surface of the frontcover 65 to cover the pushing portion 67A and the light transmissionportion 67B. The diffusion sheets 69 and 70 uniformly diffuse the lightemitted from the light emission unit provided on the process unit 63 andthus the luminance of the light transmitted to the light transmissionportion 67B becomes uniform. That is, the variation in luminance of thelight transmission portion 67B in accordance with a distance to thelight emission unit can be prevented by the diffusion sheets 69 and 70.Therefore, the edge of the pushing portion 67A can uniformly emit lightwith the relatively small number of light emission devices provided onthe process unit 73.

In this embodiment, the diffusion sheets 69 and 70 are preparedseparately and attached on the front board 66. That is, each of thediffusion sheets 69 and 70 includes a thin sheet 69A formed ofpolyethylene terephalate (PET) and a diffusion ink layer 69 b formed byapplying diffusion ink on the thin sheet 69A. The diffusion sheets 69and 70 may be formed in a variety of sizes in accordance with areaswhere they will be attached. The diffusion ink applied to the thin sheetmay be formed in a variety of colors in accordance with the location ofthe light transmission portion 67B to vary the color of the lighttransmitted frontward of the light transmission portion 67B.

The following will describe operation of the display 60 structured asdescribed above.

First, a process for manufacturing the front cover 65 will be described.The front board 66 formed of a glass material is prepared. The printedlayer 67 is formed on the rear surface of the front board 66 through asilkscreen printing process, thereby forming the margin portion 67Cdefining an overall color of the front board 66, the pushing portion 67Adefining a user s touch area, and the light transmission portion 67Bthat transmits a relatively large amount of light.

At the same time, a variety of letters and symbols for describing thepushing portion 67A are printed on the margin portion 67C. In addition,the display window 68 for allowing the display area 62 to be viewed fromthe external side is formed on the front board 65.

Next, the diffusion sheets 69 and 70 are attached on the rear surface ofthe front cover 65 on which the printed layer 67 is formed. When thefront cover 65 on which the diffusion sheets 69 and 70 are attached isfixed on the front surface of the main body display unit 61, the display60 is completed.

The following will describe a process for illuminating the front surfaceof the display 60.

When electric power is applied to the display 60, the light emissionunit provided on the process unit 63 emits the light. The light emittedfrom the light emission unit is uniformly diffused by the diffusionsheets 69 and 70 attached on the rear surface of the front cover 65 andtransmitted to the light transmission portion 67B. Then, as the lighttransmission portion 67B transmits the light, the light emitted from thelight emission unit is transmitted to the external side and thus thelight transmission portion 67B under the front cover 65 is uniformlyilluminated.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a display according to asecond embodiment, FIG. 5 is a rear view of a front cover of the displayof FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating operation of thedisplay of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIGS. 4 through 6, a display 100 of this embodimentincludes a control panel 110, a diffusion sheet 120, and a front cover130.

The control panel 110 includes a printed circuit board 111. Aseven-segment 112 for displaying an operation state of the refrigerator,light emitting diodes 113, and other electronic components are mountedon the printed circuit board. In addition, mechanical or electronicbuttons (not shown) for adjusting the operation state of therefrigerator may be mounted on the printed circuit board 111. Thecontrol panel 110 may be fixed on, for example, a main body of therefrigerator.

The diffusion sheet 120 is printed with a specific color at a portioncorresponding to the seven-segment 112 and the light emitting diodes 113except for a portion corresponding to letters, numbers, and symbols. Thediffusion sheet 120 is located corresponding to the display window ofthe front cover 130. The diffusion sheet 120 may be integrally formedwith the printed circuit board 111 or attached on the display window byadhesive.

A portion of the rear surface of the front cover 130, which correspondto the display window 131, is smogged with a specific translucent color.The margin portion 132 is deeply colored with a specific color. A coloridentical to that of the margin portion may be printed on a frontsurface of the diffusion sheet 120. Here, the layer printed on the rearsurface of the front cover 130 may be called a printed layer. The lighttransmission portion 1321) defining the pushing portion 132 a forletting the user know the location of the input location is not printedon the margin portion 132.

For example, the front surface of the diffusion sheet 120 except for theportion 121 corresponding to the numbers, letters, and symbols isprinted with a black color and the rear surface of the display window131 is printed with a translucent gray color. In addition, the marginportion 132 may be printed with the black color.

That is, the rear surface of the front cover 130 is printed with anachromatic color and brightness of the display window 131 is greaterthan that of the margin portion 132.

Therefore, when the seven-segment 112 or light emitting diodes 113 ofthe control panel 110 emit light, as shown in FIG. 6, the diffusionsheet 120 and the display window 131 overlap with each other and thusthe front surface of the front cover 130 is displayed with the blackcolor. The margin portion 132 is also displayed with black. Theoperation state of the refrigerator is displayed with a specific color(e.g., a phosphor color) on the display window 131 and the buttons onthe margin portion 132 is also displayed with the specific color (e.g.,a phosphor color).

In this case, the display window 131 and the margin portion 132 aredisplayed with an identical color, a sense of unity can be enhanced andthus the outer appearance can be improved.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the embodiments, since the diffusion sheet is attached onthe front cover, the display area can uniformly emit the light. Inaddition, the luminance color can be varied in accordance with the colorof the diffusion sheet. Therefore, the industrial applicability of thepresent disclosure is very high.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display for a refrigerator, comprising: aprocess unit receiving a variety of operation signals for operating therefrigerator; a front cover provided in front of the process unit andincluding a user touch area displaying an touching location of a userand a light transmission portion transmitting light; and a diffusionsheet provided in rear of the front cover and uniformly diffusing thelight, the diffusion sheet being attached at least a portion around thelight transmission portion, wherein an operation signal for operatingthe refrigerator is input by touching the user touch area.
 2. Thedisplay according to claim 1, wherein the diffusion sheet includes asheet formed of a polyethylene terephalate and a diffusion ink appliedon the sheet.
 3. The display according to claim 1, wherein the diffusionsheet covers the user touch area and the light transmission portion. 4.The display according to claim 1, wherein the process unit comprises aplurality of light emission unit, and the light emission unit emits thelight when electric power is applied to the display.
 5. The displayaccording to claim 1, wherein the front cover includes a printed layerformed through a silkscreen printing process and the front cover isdivided into a display window through which the user identifiesoperating information of the refrigerator and a margin portion definedaround the display window.
 6. The display according to claim 5, whereinthe printed layer is formed with a specific first color-base andbrightness of the display window is greater than that of the marginportion.
 7. The display according to claim 1, wherein the front cover isformed of glass or acryl.
 8. A display for a refrigerator, comprising: aprocess unit having a plurality of light emission unit. a front boardprovided in front of the process unit; and a printed layer formed on thefront board; and wherein the margin portion includes a user touch areadisplaying a touching location of a user and a light transmissionportion defining an edge of the pushing portion, and wherein at leastone of the plurality of light emission unit is turned on when electricpower is applied to the display and light from the at least one of theplurality of light emission unit passes through the light transmissionportion.
 9. The display according to claim 8, wherein the front boardcomprises a display window and a margin portion, and the user touch areaand the light transmission portion is formed on the margin portion. 10.The display according to claim 9, further comprising a diffusion sheetthat covers the light transmission portion.
 11. The display according toclaim 10, wherein the diffusion sheet is printed with a first colorexcept for a portion corresponding to letters, numbers, and symbols. 12.The display according to claim 11, wherein the at least one of theplurality of light emission unit passes through the light transmissionportion passes through the portion corresponding to letters, numbers,and symbols.
 13. The display according to claim 8, further comprising adiffusion sheet that covers the light transmission portion.
 14. Thedisplay according to claim 13, wherein the wherein the diffusion sheetincludes a sheet formed of a polyethylene terephalate and a diffusionink applied on the sheet.